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This is part 1 of our series “The Hope of God” and really, an introduction to a four part study  where we are seeking to understand the “good news” or “glad tidings” spoken about in verses of the Quran like Surat An-Nisa’ 165.  In this segment we want to understand why God (Allah) determined it was necessary to send us, through his prophets and word, a proclamation that by definition, fills us  with joy.  Did we do something bad?  Have we somehow fallen short of some ideal?  How does God’s “glad tidings” help us? We’ll talk more about; Surat Al-Baqara 30 and its connection to Allah’s message of “glad tidings.” What the angels think of us and why they questioned Allah’s decision to create man. The corruption of man. Surat Al-Hijr 47 and the promise of God to remove the corruption from our hearts.

Iblis (Satan) may sound like a strange character to study, especially as it relates to the “Hope of God”, but its hugely important to understanding our own corruption and the plan of God to overcome our weakness of faith.  The story of Iblis compliments our introduction by bringing a far away feeling concept into concrete terms that we can easily recognize and understand.  Iblis provides us with a great picture of what our corruption looks like in real actions and how it affects our faith, our submission and even our relationship with Allah.  Most importantly, though, it shows us the fate of those who do not worship God with a sincere heart. Among many things, we’ll discuss; The idea of Tawhid, the names of God, and their relationship to “sincere worship” as mentioned in Surat Al-A’raf 29. What it means to be “harmoniously created” as Surat Al-Hijr 29 teaches. What Iblis (Satan) really did that caused God to throw him out of Paradise, and how he plans to influence us to do the same thing and be judged in the same way.

As part 3 in our series, the study of Adam builds off the story of Iblis (Satan).  In this segment we look deeply into the text to understand why Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Garden.  What did they do, exactly, that was so terrible, so destructive and so offensive to God?  Why did God respond so severely?  We also want to understand how Iblis (Satan) was able to so easily deceive Adam and Eve.  But most of all, we want to begin to expose you to the reality that God has a plan, - that the central message of God is one built on hope and assurance that all is not lost not matter how severe we have wronged our own souls.  We can go to paradise and God has provided a way! In the story of Adam we are forced to face the reality of our own shame.  But in the midst of all this misery and pain we, perhaps for the first time, get a sense of the true goodness, and kindness of our God. We’ll discuss; Surat Al-Araf (7):19-27; Surat At-Taha (20) verses 115, 120-123 and Surat Al-Baqara verses 34-39. The sin that Adam really committed when he took Iblis as an ally. The difference between compassion and forgiveness. The hope we can have that God has not abandoned us and consigned us a fate of eternal punishment.

The story of Abraham takes us on an exciting journey, and follows the father of faith as he goes from being a polytheist (mushrik) to the friend of God.  Along the way we expand on the principles discovered in the study of Adam.  As we reach the climax of Abraham’s pilgrimage in the episode of his greatest trial to sacrifice his son, we learn exactly how God intends to provided a way of forgiveness to occur in the face of our corruption and give us the purity we need to enter paradise. One of the things that makes the story of Abraham so exciting, is that it immediately thrusts us into his journey of faith.  Remarkably by reading his story, we get to, in a way, step into his private thoughts about his own faith and the struggles he went through on his journey to pure faith.  Thoughts we all have, but perhaps keep to our selves because we are scared that Allah will punish us. We’ll study; Surat Al-An’am verses 74-80, Surat Ash-Shu’araa verses 69-89; Surat Al-Baqara verse 260 and Surat As-Saffat verses 83-111. The prayers of Abraham and how God answered them in such a way that Abraham’s faith would awaken to an awesome reality that we are not alone in our struggle (jihad) to reach paradise. The incredible price and debt our shame produces and how God has provided a way of redemption.

Who is Isa Al-Messiah? Everything learned from this series finds its completion in the study of Isa Al-Messiah (Jesus).  We learn what the name Al-Messiah really means, why God gave Isa this designation, and how this name defines the very reason and role for which Isa was sent.  As such, we come to understand how Isa fulfills God’s promise and plan to forgive our shame and usher us into Paradise in peace. While reading from Surat Al-Imran verses 42-62, Surat An-Nisa verses 155-158, Surat Al-Maryam verses 16-34 and Surat Az-Zukhruf verses 55-59 (63), we’ll learn about; The devious scheme of the Jews and how God proved his supremacy to a people and world that so quickly seeks to deny the greatness of their creator. The tragedy that the Jews, despite all the authority Isa was given and every miracle he performed, still did not believe that Isa was who he said he was. The connection between Adam and Isa and how both represent the two greatest acts of God’s power in creation and the endless nature of His compassion.